Christmas with the Campbells

This Christmas has been out of the ordinary for our family. The week before Christmas the kids were sick and stayed home from school a few of the days. By the weekend before Christmas, we were all so sick and we hoped that we would feel better by Christmas. We had planned to see the lights at the temple, see the lights in DC including the national Christmas tree, and we also planned a day trip to New York to ice skate at Rockefeller plaza and see the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, we did not get better. We still enjoyed opening presents, but slept the rest of the day away. We spent the day after Christmas in the ER from 2:30pm to 10:30pm. Clay has resolving pneumonia and bronchitis, I have pneumonia, the kids have colds, and Ryan has conjunctivitis as well. We are just so happy to have the right medicine now and even though our house looks like a bomb went off in the living room and we all look and smell like death, we feel much better. We have high hopes of getting our sense of smell and sense of taste back so that we can have our Christmas dinner soon. It doesn't sound like a joyful time, but we are happy and will never forget this Christmas.
I didn't take any pictures (only video), but I assure you, we all got some wonderful things and were very excited. Not being able to do everything that I had planned was a blessing in disguise. I was forced to think about what things are needful and what things just take up time. I certainly wouldn't choose to be sick every year, but next year, I am going to cut out the "traditions" that are too commercial.

Breakfast with santa!

There is a progression here! CLick on the pictures to get a closer look at Ryan's face. Ha Ha Ha!




As you can see we had a great time at our ward primary Christmas party!

heaters, ants, cars and christmas cards

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we discovered that our heater was not blowing warm air. We were warm because all of the cooking and we built a fire. For the entire weekend we kept a fire going and did lots of laundry so that we could run the dryer. We had fun, but the chilly air has given Dallan and I a cold. My voice is so low that it is disgusting. I am not feminine at all! Thank goodness it is fixed now! Hopefully I will become a woman again before I have to sing at a wedding this Saturday.
Another wacky thing that happened this weekend was when we decorated for Christmas. We got out our huge bin of Christmas decorations only to find that many of our items were moldy and covered in ants. It was disgusting. We saved the things that we cared about and threw the rest away. The ants were in huge piles and looked like piles of dirt. It was strange. On the bright side, now we have an excuse to buy new things...and decide if we really need something. Our tree and ornaments are fine. The crafty things are in the garbage. The only things that we want/need to get are stockings and a tree skirt.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, our second vehicle broke down. It is a long story, but basically the engine seized. The cost of fixing it is more than the car is worth, so we will just live with one car for a while. Thank goodness we had 2 cars. We will probably get a second vehicle with our income tax refund in March.
Many of you know that Clay got to work with the presidential dental team. He met President Bush on more than one occasion and has some gifts and pictures to show for it. Today he also got a special Christmas card from President Bush. It is very exciting for our family!
One more thing...tomorrow is our 13 year anniversary! We feel that it is an unlucky number so we will not be celebrating it. Obviously I am kidding-we will celebrate it on Friday!